Slab jacking vs. polyjacking.
'Slab jacking' is often used as a general umbrella term. 'Polyjacking' specifically means using polyurethane foam. This page cleans up the terminology and compares the methods honestly.
Free On-Site Estimate · Serving Spokane & the Inland Northwest
Overview
What we're actually comparing.
The concrete-leveling industry has a lot of overlapping terms. 'Slab jacking' historically meant mudjacking — pumping cement slurry under a slab. Today it's often used as a catch-all for any lifting method.
'Polyjacking' is more specific. It always means polyurethane foam. This page treats slab jacking as the traditional slurry method (its original meaning) so the comparison is meaningful.
For the underlying service, see concrete leveling. Serving Spokane, WA and the surrounding Inland Northwest. Ready to skip to a real recommendation? Request a free estimate.
The two options
A plain-English look at each method.
Slab Jacking (Traditional)
Cement/sand slurry pumped through 1–1.5" ports.
Traditional slab jacking is mudjacking under another name. Contractors drill relatively large holes, pump slurry beneath the slab, and let the material cure over the following hours.
It has been in use for close to a century. The tradeoffs are the same as mudjacking: weight, cure time, port size, and how the material fares in wet soil.
Polyjacking
Two-part polyurethane foam injected through 5/8" ports.
Polyjacking is polyurethane foam concrete leveling — the same method sometimes marketed under brand names like PolyLevel®.
The foam expands, lifts, and cures in about 15 minutes. It's dimensionally stable and doesn't absorb water.
Pros and cons
Honest tradeoffs for each option.
Slab Jacking (Traditional)
Pros
- Long, well-known history in civil and residential work.
- Simple, locally sourced materials.
- Effective under very heavy loads on stable subgrades.
Cons
- Larger port holes visible on the finished slab.
- Slurry can erode in wet soils over time.
- Longer downtime before full loading.
Polyjacking
Pros
- Fast cure and same-day use.
- Small, discreet injection ports.
- Doesn't overload weak Spokane subgrades.
- Water-neutral — a real advantage in freeze/thaw country.
Cons
- Requires specialty two-part injection equipment.
- Slightly higher per-square-foot material cost.
Side by side
Cost, time, lifespan, warranty — one table.
Ranges reflect typical Spokane residential projects. Every real number comes from an on-site walkthrough.
| Factor | Slab Jacking (Traditional) | Polyjacking |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (Spokane residential) | $500 – $1,800 | $700 – $2,500 |
| Time on site | 2–5 hours | 1–3 hours |
| Disruption | Golf-ball ports; overnight cure | Dime-sized ports; back in service same day |
| Expected lifespan | 5–10 years typical | 20+ years |
| Warranty | 1–5 years | 5–10 years |
| Maintenance | Watch for re-settlement | Standard joint sealing |
| Environmental impact | Cement-based; higher embodied carbon | Less material by weight; no demolition |
| Best application | Heavy commercial slabs, dry subgrades | Residential Spokane slabs, wet subgrades |
Spokane climate & soil
Freeze/thaw, clay soils, and drainage.
In practice, most Spokane residential settlement projects are polyjacking jobs. The soils and freeze/thaw cycle push nearly every homeowner-facing project toward foam.
Traditional slab jacking still has a place, but it's usually in heavy industrial or infrastructure applications rather than a residential driveway or sidewalk.
Environmental impact
Which option is easier on the environment?
The environmental profile is essentially the mudjacking-vs-foam story: foam uses less material by weight, avoids cement's embodied carbon, and doesn't require oversize ports and patching.
Best use cases
When each option genuinely fits.
Best for Slab Jacking (Traditional)
- Heavy industrial or warehouse floors.
- Infrastructure applications where cosmetics don't matter.
- Regions with consistently dry subgrades.
Best for Polyjacking
- Residential driveways, sidewalks, patios in Spokane and the Inland Northwest.
- Slabs adjacent to persistent moisture.
- Decorative or stamped concrete.
When concrete leveling is the better call
Signals that lifting wins.
- Slab is intact and just settled.
- Downtime and appearance matter to you.
- You value a longer material warranty.
Not sure which one fits your slab?
We'll give you an honest recommendation.
We come out, walk the slab, and tell you which method (or replacement) is the right buy — even when it isn't a job for us.
When replacement is honestly better
The cases where lifting isn't the right call.
- Slab is failed at the material level.
- Cracks are structural and full-depth.
- You want to change the layout or grade.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers from Spokane homeowners.
- Are slab jacking and polyjacking the same thing?
- Not technically. Slab jacking historically meant mudjacking; polyjacking specifically means polyurethane foam. Some contractors use 'slab jacking' as a general term today.
- Is polyjacking a brand?
- It's a method, not a brand. It's used with a variety of professional polyurethane systems.
- Which method is more common in Spokane?
- Polyjacking — by a wide margin — for residential work. Traditional slab jacking still shows up on heavier commercial jobs.
- Is polyjacking more expensive?
- Usually somewhat higher per square foot, but the longer warranty and faster return-to-service usually make the total-cost-of-ownership case for foam.
- How long does polyjacking take?
- Most residential projects finish in a few hours with same-day return to service.
- Do polyjacking ports look bad?
- They're roughly the size of a dime and patched with color-matched grout. On most driveways they're difficult to spot from a normal viewing distance.
- Can polyjacking fix a really heavy slab?
- For most residential loads, easily. For extremely heavy commercial floors, contractors sometimes still choose traditional slab jacking or a hybrid approach.
- Is polyjacking worth the extra cost?
- In the Inland Northwest's wet, freeze-thaw soils, almost always. Speak with an installer who's willing to explain honestly when it isn't.
Related services
Explore the services this comparison touches.
Keep researching
Related pricing, problem pages, and articles.
Homeowner problems
Serving Spokane and the surrounding Inland Northwest. Prefer to skip the reading? Request a free estimate.
Free estimate — no obligation
Get an honest recommendation for your slab.
Ranges are useful. A real recommendation is better. We come out, evaluate the slab, and tell you which method — or whether replacement — is actually the right buy.
Lift it — don't replace it.
Have questions about your concrete? Need advice? Want a free estimate? We're here to help. Concrete leveling saves the slab you already have, at a fraction of the cost of replacement.
- Often less costly and less disruptive than tear-out and replacement
- Repair before replacement when appropriate
- Modern concrete lifting methods
- Clear recommendations — no pressure, no upsells
Free Estimates · Spokane-Focused Service · Clear Recommendations